Read POST 1, POST 2, POST 3, POST 4, POST 5, POST 6
No time to sleep now, I need to take a bath and prepare before visitors arrive. I look at myself in the mirror after my bath, I looked tired, I started to talk to Chris, “Will you be with me through all these? Come on hold my hand.” I reached out my left hand, I waited for his touch… waiting… waiting… none! Ok fine, what was I thinking? Am I losing my mind? I heard I had visitors already so I went out and put on clothes. Of course I had to put on make-up as well. I didn’t want to look kawawa. My husband wouldn’t want that. After fixing myself, in my mind, “ok let’s do this! Fight!”
My friend Macon comes in the room with her Mac book and Starbucks signature iced chocolate non-fat no whipped cream for me (I love her). She said, “Send me pictures, I will fix the layout and ask our supplier to print it on sintra so visitors can view Chris’s/your photos.” I start choosing which ones will make the cut. As I browse through each picture, all these memories came flashing back. Our last HK trip last May, his biking photos, family photo shoots, our date runs, family outings and playground dates… our past… now just memories. Who would’ve thought it’ll end too soon.
First few visitors came, after they left, a new batch came in… this went on the whole day… I was tired and sleepy but each person who came and sympathized with us gave me the strength to go on.
They made me feel loved. They made me feel how special my husband was. Thankful for everyone who came and became instruments of God’s love for me. See, the Lord didn’t give me a minute to think about how sad the situation was. Literally, after one visitor left, new ones came in. It was like God saying, ‘I got you Mariz, watch and experience my goodness.’
Pinterest.com
Since I was awake for more than 36 hours, I got into zombie mode. My eyes were closing. My friends tell me to rest for a bit. I fell asleep sitting on the couch. After a couple of hours, I wake up. “Oh, it wasn’t a dream.” When I came out, there were even more people. Friends would leave 3am or so. There wasn’t any minute that I felt I wasn’t loved.
Almost everyone I know came! My grade school classmates, high school schoolmates, college schoolmates and friends, officemates (from different departments), ex-officemates from URC (from different batches), my Green Cross bosses, my N@w sisters (thank you, Benz), BLC, PPW, my cousins, titas and titos, friends of my parents, neighbors, Mateo’s bestfriend and family, Mateo’s teachers, ates, and principal from CLP, my co-parents from CLP, my sister’s boss and his family and my sister’s officemates (Barty and Elbert were with us in the precinct), my brother’s GF (Bea, Mateo’s fave playmate), his friends, our Ad and Media agency, our events agencies, my barkadas of course (college and Pluto).
Chris’s family came (Dalisay, Bo, Luis), his bestfriends, his classmates from grade school to college, his officemates and bosses from Teletech/ Telstra, his ex-officemates, his Tau Omega Mu brothers and sisters, his Magic cards friends, biker friends, running friends, Mormon churchmates, his kababatas, his parents’ friends.
Even those we don’t know came to pay respects—biker groups from different cities, Erwin (Families of Road Victims and Survivors), and other NGOs like Mr. Rey Refran.
It was a blessing that Chris’s death also raised awareness on biker/ road safety, the need for bike lanes (#bikelanesnow) and sharing the road (#sharetheroad).
A lot of friends tell me they are more conscious and cautious whenever there are bikers/ motorists and pedestrians because of what happened to Chris. I’m sure my husband is smiling down from heaven. My brother’s comment, advocating biker’s rights and demanding solutions for traffic, on Mr. James Deakin’s Facebook page even went viral overnight.
The article from wheninmanila here.
This was not the end of it. GMA 7 and ABSCBN even went to the wake and covered the story. Oh my sweetheart, now a superstar!
My sister was the one who did the interview as I was not ready physically, emotionally, and mentally. I requested that the story be focused on biker safety than Chris’s accident/ personal life. I haven’t watched any until now. Even the reports these two networks aired on the day of the accident, I haven’t had the guts to watch. Too afraid to know how much his body suffered. Although I heard during the wake phrases like, “Nakaladkad ng car,” “Tumilapon ang katawan,” “Nadaganan,” all these I just cannot fully absorb. What I know is… my loving husband is now with Jesus! He is now in heaven–His dream came true ♥
Made with love by BLC. Thanks Bukies!
mommy&bubba 
God has reaffirmed His love for you, Mar. How beautiful your choice of words and thoughts that you filter out any negativity. Truly only by the grace and love of God =) It is possible to still love Him and see the good in all of these.
LikeLike